OET interlinear MAT 20:1

20:1a

For: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as For introduces an explanation for something that was just said. In this case, the parable that follows explains the statement that Jesus made in 19:30. He said that, at the renewal of all things, many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Here are some other ways to introduce this explanation:

Let me explain

Jesus continued, explaining

the kingdom of heaven is like: Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to the entire parable in 20:1–16. Jesus did not just compare the kingdom of heaven to the master of a house. Make sure your grammar indicates that. Here are some examples:

Here is what the kingdom of heaven is like:

The kingdom of heaven is like this story.

I can compare the kingdom of heaven to this parable.

the kingdom of heaven: The phrase the kingdom of heaven last occurred in 19:23b. You should translate it the same ways in both places. For help to translate this phrase, see the note at 18:23a.

a landowner: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates a landowner is more literally “a man a house-master.” Jesus often used the phrase “a man” to introduce the main character of a parable he told. Follow the pattern of your language to indicate that this man is the main character of the story. For example:

There was a certain man who owned some land

This phrase refers to someone who was rich enough to own a house and possibly other property and land.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

a master of the house (ESV)

a person who owned some land (NCV)

the owner of a farm/field

20:1b

who went out: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as went out indicates that the master of the house went outside his house. He went to the marketplace to find people willing to work for him. This is where people looking for work would gather. That place is made explicit in 20:3, but you may need to mention it here. For example:

who went out to the marketplace

He went to the public square

early in the morning: This phrase probably refers to a time soon after sunrise. It was as soon as there was enough daylight to work. In Israel this would have been about 6 o’clock in the morning.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

One morning…very early (NCV)

at daybreak (NJB)

to hire workers: The Greek word that the BSB translates as to hire is based on the word for “wage.” It means “to pay wages/money to.” The master of the house intended to give the men money for the work that they would do.

The Greek word that the BSB translates workers refers to people who do work which requires physical labor. (This same word occurs in 10:10b.)

Here are some other ways to translate this entire phrase:

to employ workers

to find people whom he would pay to work

to look for people to work

for his vineyard: A vineyard is a field where grapevines are planted. Grapevines are long, woody vines that produce a fruit called grapes. People used sticks to hold the vines off the ground so that the fruit hung down without touching the ground.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

in his grape farm

in his field of grape vines

In some languages, there may not be a word for “vineyard” or for “grape.” If this is true in your language, here are two other options to consider:

• Borrow the word for “grape” from another language and add a general expression that describes what a grape farm is. For example:

  farm for producing a fruit called grapes

  farm for raising fruit from grape vines

• Use a general word for fruit that would fit in this context. For example:

  farm to produce a fruit used to make wine

You may also want to add a footnote. For example:

The fruit called “grape” grows on a vine. The fruit is used for making wine.

Note that “grape” and “grapefruit” are not the same thing.